This week’s word: Diet

Diet is everything you put into your body. Have you ever tried keeping a written record of that? It comes as a surprise to almost everyone — we seem to be peculiarly ill-suited to keeping track of what we have eaten and drunk during the day. Here at Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul, we […]

A homeschooling perspective

I homeschool my kids. Steffen PSBN homeschools his kids. Well, technically, we homeschool them all together most days, in a group effort wherein one of us pinch hits for the other when time or temper is running short. I was very pleased to recently learn that another of our students is being homeschooled, and even […]

I went to Houston and what did I see?

I took the opportunity this year of tagging along with Steffen PSBN on his annual trip to Houston for Instructor Training at the World Kuk Sool Headquarters. Although I wasn’t able to participate in the official Training, there was still plenty to do and learn “from the sidelines” as Mel JKN has put it. The […]

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood

Have you noticed a young woman in classes taking pictures recently? Julia has been visiting Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul taking pictures for the University Avenue Project. Photographer Wing Young Huie, in collaboration with Public Art St. Paul and with funding from the Joyce Foundation, is creating a six-mile gallery of 360 photographs in […]

Women’s Flat Track Derby

Yeah, I’m talkin’ about roller derby. But it’s not what you think. I went to my first bout not really knowing what to expect, and what I saw was a fast-paced, hard-driving sport that owed as much of its appeal to truly gifted athleticism as to the admittedly fun dramatics. Yes, the girls throw around […]

Epic Quotes from Master Sung Jin Suh

2013 update: There was originally a video that went along with these words that no longer exists (that I can find, anyway). But these words of wisdom from Master Sung Jin Suh persist. Kuk Sool Won Practice Basics: Memory Strength Stretch Center Balance Stamina Power Connection Meditation Speed Kuk Sool Won Practice Principles: Stop Leads […]

Practicing gratitude: the Thanksgiving post

I’m thankful that I co-own a martial arts school and don’t have to have a real job. I’m thankful for every student who walks through those doors. I’m thankful for a family that loves and supports me, even if they can’t remember the name of whatever it is that I do all the time. I’m […]

Learning from the Sidelines

From guest blogger, Mel JKN: There are times in Kuk Sool when we’re not part of what’s going on. We may be waiting for the class before ours to finish, we may be waiting while our instructor teaches a technique to our partner, we may be watching a tournament, or we may be sidelined due […]

The New Depression

My ex asked me the other day how we were faring in the face of the “mini-Depression.” It’s a small business, he figured, and we don’t exactly offer what most people consider a necessary commodity. And the bleak economy is affecting almost everyone at some level. I told him the truth: we’re growing steadily, retaining […]

Chuck Norris…just because.

Thanks to Scott Wood Hohng Di for forwarding a link to this site. Here are some fun facts about Mr. Norris. When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris doesn’t read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants. There is no […]